A moment later, the waiter brought in a small tray with a specially made mini cake on it. It wasn't triangular, but round, only about the size of a bowl—a real mini cake.
The little cakes were beautifully made, with white lace trim around the edges, sprinkled with chocolate shavings, dotted with a few white jasmine flowers in the center, and decorated with small green leaves.
A candle was placed in the center, and a waiter lit it on the spot. After lighting the candle, the waiter quietly withdrew.
"Wow! What an adorable cake!" Duan Xu's eyes lit up with excitement.
Cakes are usually six to eight inches in size, or even larger, and four inches is also possible, but this is the first time he has ever seen one this small.
"Do you like it?" This was what Shen Yanlang had specifically instructed.
Duan Xu's eyes sparkled as he nodded vigorously, "I love it!"
As he spoke, he took out his phone and snapped a picture, saying, "This cake is so cute, I have to keep a record of it."
You're the cutest.
Duan Xu is now truly immune to cuteness, and even accepts it with pleasure.
After taking the photo, he closed his eyes and said, "I'm going to make a wish."
"Okay." Shen Yanlang said, taking out his phone to take a picture of Duan Xu making a wish and the little cake together.
Duan Xu made three wishes: one was that his parents would be healthy and safe; another was that Shen Yanlang be healthy and happy every day; and the last was that he hoped they could be together forever, and preferably together in the next life as well.
After blowing out the candles, Duan Xu cut the cake, making sure it was half for each person, not too much.
After eating the cake, Shen Yanlang took out the birthday gift he had prepared.
They are matching watches, and they bought the same brand the night they officially became a couple.
While preparing, Shen Yanlang recalled that day when they coincidentally bought the same brand of watch, said the same things, and finally confirmed their relationship.
He will remember that night for the rest of his life. He regrets that the watches weren't a couple's watch, so he specially bought a pair and plans to buy all his watches from this store from now on.
The two then helped each other put on their watches, just like exchanging rings, and then Duan Xu and Shen Yanlang held hands tightly and took a picture.
Finally, Duan Xu posted a status update on his WeChat Moments. There were no extra words, only two pictures: one of a small cake and the other of their hands clasped together. The rings on their hands and the watches on their wrists clearly showed their relationship.
After seeing it, Shen Yanlang liked and forwarded it using his WeChat account.
Before long, friends from all walks of life gathered below.
Zhou Zhou: [Yo, looks like you had a good birthday today! But aren't we still missing a kissing picture?]
Xiao Xu: [Happy birthday, nice watch.]
Han Xi: [Happy birthday, the cake is cute.]
Xue Jingshu: [This brand of watch isn't expensive, Little Yan, are you short of money?]
Ye Xinyu: [Haha... Cousin, if you're going to give a gift, give something expensive!]
Du Shen: [Yan-ge, if you don't have money, I can sponsor you.]
Shen Yanlang: [Get lost!]
Besides these people, some members of the Cycling Club also commented that they were already stuffed with dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).
Shen Yanlang turned off his phone and went to check Duan Xu, only to discover that Duan Xu had many people he didn't know.
Sun Yao: [Holy crap! Xuxu, you've started showing off your love!]
Student 1: [What? Duan Xu, you have a girlfriend?]
Student 2: [Holy crap! Holy crap! Duan Xu is in a relationship! And it's a guy!]
Classmate 3: [Duan Xu, that's not fair of you! You got a boyfriend and didn't even tell me.]
Classmate 4: [Duan Xu, there's a gathering in three days, why don't you bring your boyfriend?]
Student 5: [Yes, yes, bring him along.]
Many others echoed the same sentiment, urging Duan Xu to bring Shen Yanlang along.
So Duan Xu replied to himself, "[I'll bring it, but we'll come when we eat.]"
Everyone was very excited when they saw it, but they changed their location and went directly to the group chat to talk about it.
Duan Xu didn't look at the group chat; they were too talkative, he couldn't handle it.
"You're on good terms with them?" Shen Yanlang, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
Duan Xu smiled and replied, "It's alright, I can say a few words, but the best one is Sun Yao, she's my deskmate for two years."
Shen Yanlang narrowed his eyes slightly, his lips curling down. "Oh? Two years as deskmates, male or female? Beta, or alpha?"
Duan Xu paused, looked up at him, and then deliberately asked, "Guess?"
"Are you sure you want me to guess?" Shen Yanlang pulled Duan Xu into his arms and pinched his chin.
Duan Xu, realizing he couldn't beat Shen Yanlang, so he honestly confessed, "She's a female beta, but don't worry, our friendship is purely platonic, there are absolutely no other feelings involved."
Shen Yanlang's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, "Are you sure she doesn't like you?"
"I'm sure," Duan Xu said with absolute certainty, "She has a boyfriend."
Shen Yanlang continued, "When did you get it?"
"Senior year of high school," Duan Xu said, "But I don't know if they've broken up yet. They probably haven't; if they had, she would have told me."
"It seems you two have a good relationship." Shen Yanlang was still a little jealous, not because the other person was a female beta, but because she had spent Duan Xu, the most important two years of her life.
[I wish I had met Xuxu sooner.]
Duan Xu's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this, and she took the initiative to kiss him, saying, "We're doing great right now. If we had met earlier, we might not be together now!"
"How do you know you won't?" Shen Yanlang savored the memory of their kiss.
Duan Xu explained clearly, "First of all, we weren't adults back then, so we definitely couldn't be in a relationship. Secondly, I might not have liked you back then."
At that time, he had not awakened or differentiated; all he wanted was to find a female beta.
Hearing this, Shen Yanlang snorted, "You have to like it whether you like it or not, you absolutely have to like it!"
Duan Xu: "..."
"Stop making assumptions, we're together now anyway." Duan Xu decisively ended the topic. "The cake's finished, let's go home."
Shen Yanlang understood Duan Xu well, so he hummed in agreement and said nothing more.
The two got up and left the private room. Shen Yanlang went to pay the bill, and after paying, they took a taxi home together.
When they arrived home, the living room lights were on, but no one was home; Qiu Shan had left them on.
Qiu Shan and Duan Hu were in Fang's room when they turned off the lights and tiptoed upstairs back to their bedroom.
"I'm going to take a shower first." It was still a bit hot on the way back, and I felt uncomfortable after sweating.
Shen Yanlang grabbed him, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "Let's shower together."
Duan Xu met his gaze, hesitated for only three seconds, then pulled him into the bathroom, but bargained, "Let's make it clear first, it's just a simple shower, no more..."
"Whatever you say," Shen Yanlang readily agreed. "Didn't we say we'd try navel oranges tonight? The bathroom isn't convenient."
Duan Xu: "..."